Tractor drawbar assembly

Abstract

A drawbar assembly includes a drawbar and a hammer strap that is fixed to the drawbar forward of a drawbar hanger.

1. A drawbar assembly for an agricultural tractor having a drawbar hanger, the assembly comprising:
 an elongate drawbar having a rear end with a hole configured to receive a lower end of a hitch pin, and a front end pivotally coupled to a tractor chassis; and 
 a unitary hammer strap having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the front portion is fixed to the drawbar forward of the drawbar hanger and the rear portion is configured to receive an upper end of the hitch pin while leaving a central portion of the hitch pin exposed for coupling to a towed implement. 
 
   
   
     2. The drawbar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hammer strap has a central portion disposed between the front portion and the rear portion that is fixed to the drawbar to the rear of the drawbar hanger. 
   
   
     3. The drawbar assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the hammer strap defines a laterally extending recess configured to receive the drawbar hanger. 
   
   
     4. The drawbar assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 the drawbar hanger, the hanger having a bottom surface and a top surface; and 
 a laterally extending brace fixed to the bottom surface of the drawbar hanger on both sides of the drawbar. 
 
   
   
     5. The drawbar assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the laterally extending brace defines a recess configured to receive the drawbar, the drawbar assembly further comprising:
 a left upper brace fixed to the top surface of the drawbar hanger on the left side of the drawbar; and 
 a right upper brace fixed to the top surface of the drawbar hanger on the right side of the drawbar. 
 
   
   
     6. A drawbar assembly for a work vehicle, comprising:
 a longitudinally-extending drawbar having a rear end with a hole configured to receive a hitch pin, and a front end configured to be coupled to the work vehicle and disposed beneath and perpendicular to an arcuate drawbar hanger; and 
 a hammer strap having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the front portion is fixed to the drawbar forward of the drawbar hanger, and the rear portion is configured to receive the hitch pin, the rear portion being spaced away from the rear end of the drawbar to provide a central exposed portion of the hitch pin. 
 
   
   
     7. The drawbar assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the hammer strap comprises a central portion disposed between the front portion and the rear portion that is fixed to the drawbar to the rear of the drawbar hanger. 
   
   
     8. The drawbar assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the hammer strap defines a laterally extending recess configured to receive the drawbar hanger. 
   
   
     9. The drawbar assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 the drawbar hanger, the hanger having a bottom surface and a top surface; and 
 a laterally extending brace fixed to the bottom surface of the drawbar hanger on both sides of the drawbar. 
 
   
   
     10. The drawbar assembly of  claim 9 , wherein the laterally extending brace defines a recess configured to receive the drawbar, the drawbar assembly further comprising:
 a left upper brace fixed to the top surface of the drawbar hanger on the left side of the drawbar; and 
 a right upper brace fixed to the top surface of the drawbar hanger on the right side of the drawbar. 
 
   
   
     11. The drawbar assembly of  claim 6 , wherein the drawbar has left and right sides, the assembly further comprising:
 a front plate abutting a bottom surface of the drawbar and fixed to the front portion of the hammer strap; and 
 a rear plate abutting a bottom surface of the drawbar and fixed to the rear portion of the hammer strap. 
 
   
   
     12. A drawbar assembly for a work vehicle, comprising:
 a longitudinally-extending drawbar having a rear end configured to receive a hitch pin, and a front end configured to be coupled to the work vehicle; and 
 a unitary hammer strap having a front portion and a rear portion, wherein the front portion is bolted to the drawbar at a location forward of a drawbar hanger, and the rear portion is configured to receive the hitch pin, the rear portion being spaced away from the rear end of the drawbar to provide a central exposed portion of the hitch pin. 
 
   
   
     13. The drawbar assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the hammer strap comprises a central portion disposed between the front portion and the rear portion that is fixed to the drawbar to the rear of the drawbar hanger. 
   
   
     14. The drawbar assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the hammer strap defines a laterally extending recess configured to receive the drawbar hanger. 
   
   
     15. The drawbar assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 the drawbar hanger, the hanger having a bottom surface and a top surface; and 
 a laterally extending brace fixed to the bottom surface of the drawbar hanger on both sides of the drawbar. 
 
   
   
     16. The drawbar assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the laterally extending brace defines a recess configured to receive the drawbar, the drawbar assembly further comprising:
 a left upper brace fixed to the top surface of the drawbar hanger on the left side of the drawbar; and 
 a right upper brace fixed to the top surface of the drawbar hanger on the right side of the drawbar. 
 
   
   
     17. The drawbar assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the drawbar has left and right sides, the assembly further comprising:
 a front plate abutting a bottom surface of the drawbar and fixed to the front portion of the hammer strap; and 
 a rear plate abutting a bottom surface of the drawbar and fixed to the rear portion of the hammer strap. 
 
   
   
     18. The drawbar assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the hitch pin includes a pin portion and a handle portion pivotally coupled to the pin portion, and further wherein the drawbar assembly further comprises a releasable latch configured to lock the handle portion. 
   
   
     19. The drawbar assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the latch comprises a latch member pivotally coupled to the hammer strap.